Wouldn’t it be useful to suddenly erect 3D spikes out of your skin, hold them for an hour, then even faster retract them and swim away? Octopus and cuttlefish can do this as a camouflage tactic, taking on a jagged outline to mimic coral or other marine hiding spots, then flattening the skin to jet away. A new study clarifies the neural and muscular mechanisms that underlie this extraordinary defense tactic, conducted by scientists from the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL),…

Researchers from the National University of Singapore developed a novel technology to wirelessly deliver light into deep regions of the body to activate light-sensitive drugs. This potentially enables photodynamic therapy to be used to treat a wider range of cancers, such as brain and liver cancer. Left to right: Assistant Professor John Ho and Professor Zhang Yong. Credit: National University of Singapore A team of scientists from the National University of Singapore (NUS) has developed a way to wirelessly deliver…

Sean Goggins’ goal is to help social scientists — such as sociologists, anthropologists, psychologists and more — understand computing well enough to draw valid research conclusions. The University of Missouri’s unique Data Science and Analytics master’s degree program boasts concentration areas in geospatial analysis, biotechnology, high-performance computing, data journalism/strategic communication and human-centered design for data. These areas are tailor-made for professionals looking to expand their horizons or companies looking to stay on the cutting edge of data science. The curriculum…

UCLA bioengineering professor Ali Khademhosseini has led the development of a tissue-based soft robot that mimics the biomechanics of a stingray. The new technology could lead to advances in bio-inspired robotics, regenerative medicine and medical diagnostics. The study was published in Advanced Materials. The simple body design of stingrays, specifically, a flattened body shape and side fins that start at the head and end at the base of their tail, makes them ideal to model bio-electromechanical systems on. The 10-millimeter…

Artist’s concept of a stingray soft robot. Credit: University of California, Los Angeles UCLA bioengineering professor Ali Khademhosseini has led the development of a tissue-based soft robot that mimics the biomechanics of a stingray. The new technology could lead to advances in bio-inspired robotics, regenerative medicine and medical diagnostics. The study was published in Advanced Materials.
The simple body design of stingrays, specifically, a flattened body shape and side fins that start at the head and end at the…

At Uber, machine learning plays a central role in improving user experiences across our apps. Given the scale and scope of our business, we often need to think creatively about how we design these systems. For instance, when developing our partner activity matrix, a new tool for personalizing driver experiences based on aggregate usage trends, we found inspiration in a biomedical technique for visualizing genomes (genomic biclustering). Using biclustering, we can visualize diversity in driver partner patterns by expressing each…

UT Southwestern molecular biologists today report the unexpected finding that selectively deleting a stem cell transcription factor in adult mice promotes recovery after traumatic brain injury (TBI). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines TBI as a bump, blow, or jolt to the head that disrupts normal brain function, ranging from mild — brief changes in mental status — to severe, marked by an extended period of unconsciousness or memory loss. In humans, most TBIs are mild and are…

A research team led by Professor Lim Chwee Teck (standing) from the Department of Biomedical Engineering at NUS Faculty of Engineering has developed a soft, flexible and stretchable microfibre sensor for real-time healthcare monitoring and diagnosis. The sensor can measure pulse waveform in real-time, and the information can be used to determine one’s heart rate, blood pressure and stiffness in blood vessels. Credit: National University of Singapore A research team from National University of Singapore (NUS) has developed a soft,…

The Functional Genomic and Computational Assessment of Threats (Fun GCAT) program challenges research teams to develop new approaches for screening genetic information for evidence of a potential biological threat. Credit: Virginia Tech A team led by investigators from the Biocomplexity Institute of Virginia Tech has been selected through a competitive process to participate in a multimillion dollar program sponsored by the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA). The Functional Genomic and Computational Assessment of Threats (Fun GCAT) program challenges research…

The mini laboratory is 150 mm long, 120 mm wide and 20 mm high. The screw cap is made using 3D printing. Hydrophilic spots are visible on the upper interior surface of the bag. Credit: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft Human stem cells are considered a major new hope in the field of medicine. In the future, it is expected that they will make it possible to treat a wide range of ailments such as neurodegenerative diseases. With LabBag, Fraunhofer researchers have developed an…